The State - News from March 31, 1985

A strike by graveyard employees in Oakland, Palo Alto, San Pablo and Hawyard spread to 10 graveyards in Colma, as morticians stored bodies in sealed caskets. A total of 19 graveyards have now been affected by the strike. Representatives of the Cemetery Workers and Greens Attendants Union and managers of the affected memorial parks said there were no plans to resume contract negotiations. The 180 striking workers, who dig graves and tend mausoleums and grounds, pressed for a 5% to 10% increase in their $12.50-per-hour salary, union officials said. Cemetery owners, who maintain that an increasing number of cremations had hurt business, offered a 3% pay raise and asked for a cap on contributions to health insurance plans.